Hand-held labeler

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a hand-held labeler or apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels. The apparatus has a housing, a rigid, metal, frame plate mounted by the housing, a platen and a cooperating print head, a delaminator for delaminating printed labels from the web of supporting material on which the labels are carried, an applicator for applying the printed labels, a feed wheel having teeth for engaging and advancing the web, a manually operable actuator drivingly connected to the feed wheel and the print head, a brake, and an ink roll for inking the print head. The apparatus also includes a feed wheel assembly having a feed wheel driven by a pawl and ratchet mechanism. The pawl and ratchet mechanism is adjustably connected to the feed wheel. There is also disclosed an arrangement by which the print head can be tripped or fires after the actuator is moved through a predetermined distance. The apparatus has gears which are coupled through a lost-motion connection. When the actuator and one of the gears have moved through a predetermined distance a spring is released to cause the other gear to move the print head into printing cooperation with the platen.

.Iadd.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION .Iaddend.

.Iadd.This is a reissue application of patent 4,125,421 which maturedinto patent from application Serial No. 817,086 filed July 18, 1977..Iaddend.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the art of label printing and applyingapparatus.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 1,665,467 to David B. Miller dated Apr. 10, 1928 disclosesa stamping device in which a pivotally mounted hammer is tripped intoprinting cooperation with a marking stamp.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,931 to Charles C. Austin dated Nov. 5, 1968discloses a hand-held label printer in which a print head is mounted forstraight line reciprocating movement. This patent discloses cockingmeans responsive to an actuator for moving the print head from printingto a retracted position during the cycle, a detent for holding the printhead in the retracted position during a subsequent part of the cycle,and trip means responsive to the actuator at or near the end of thecycle to disengage the detent, thereby permitting a spring to snap theprint head into printing position.

Published German patent application No. P 23 45 249.5-27 (2530346) andits corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,105 of Meto International GmbHdisclose a hand-held labeler having an actuating lever and aspring-urged print head lever. The spring may be cocked by swinging theactuating lever up to the point of reaching a spring force which isgreater than the maximum of resistance opposed to the movement of theprinting mechanism toward the platen. When this occurs, the print headwill be snapped against the platen with constant force independent ofthe force or speed of movement of the actuator level.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,817 to Werner Becker et al dated Oct. 14, 1975discloses a device for printing and dispensing labels in which aprinting mechanism and a label strip advancing mechanism are actuated bymovement of a secondary lever and the secondary lever is moved by aprimary lever only after actuation of the primary lever to exceed apredetermined biasing force tending to maintain the secondary leverstationary.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,562 to Paul H. Hamisch, Jr. dated May 18, 1976discloses a hand-held labeler having a frame with a handle, an actuatordisposed at the handle, a gear segment carried by the actuator, a gearhaving a gear segment meshing with the actuator gear segment and anothergear segment meshing with a print head gear, movement of the actuatoreffects direct movement of the print head through the gears without anylost motion. The labeler also includes a platen with which the printhead is cooperable, a delaminator for delaminating labels, an applicatorfor applying printed labels and a pawl and ratchet mechanism effectivewhen the actuator is released to advance the web. Other prior artdisclosing hand-held labelers, in which the printing mechanism istriggered to control impression, are German Offenlegungsschrift No.2,656,862 and German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2,729,097.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a hand-held labeler in which the print head isconnected to the actuator through gearing and a lost-motion connection.When the actuator is moved through a predetermined distance from aninitial position to an another position, there is lost motion betweenthe gears until the actuator has moved through a predetermined incrementthrough the lost-motion connection. The other gear is held in theinitial position by a pawl or latch until the pawl is tripped. A springis used to urge the print head into printing cooperation with the platenand another spring is used to return the print head, the gears and theactuator to their initial positions and to advance the label carrier webas the actuator moves between the actuated position and the initialposition following release of the actuator.

The labeler also includes an arrangement to prevent the print head frombecoming dislocated from the frame when the labeler is impacted, such aswhen the labeler is dropped on the floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of labelprinting and applying apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a partly broken away side elevational view of the apparatuswith a removable housing section removed for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the other side of theapparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the feed wheel together with aquick-change clutching and declutching mechanism, with the axis curvedfor clarity;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view showing many of the components in FIG.5 in a position of partial assembly;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the quick-change mechanism showingdrive pawls moving toward their retracted positions;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view showing toothed clutch membersof the mechanism in one extreme selected position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the clutch membersdeclutched to enable rotation of the ratchet wheel relative to the feedwheel;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section showing theclutch members in clutched position;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view showing one gear segment moved to aposition in which the latch is about to be tripped;

FIG. 12 is a exploded perspective view of the gear assembly;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 11 but showing the latchas having been tripped;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14--14 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 11 but showing analternative embodiment; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16--16 of FIG. 15.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a label printing and applyingapparatus generally indicated at 150. The apparatus 150 has a framegenerally indicated at 151 which is shown to comprise a frame or housinghaving housing sections 152, 153 and 154 and a subframe comprising asingle, rigid, metal frame plate 155. The housing is essentially closed.The frame 151 has a handle generally indicated at 159 comprised in partof a handle portion 160 and in part of the frame section 154. Thehousing section 154 is secured to the housing section 152 by screws 161received in respective threaded holes 162. The frame section 153 ispositioned in front of a lip 163 of the section 154 and projections 164on the section 153 extend behind a wall 165. The section 153 isconnected to the section 152 by snapfit connections including generallysnap-shaped flexible resilient members 166 engageable in respectiveundercut recesses 167 in the section 152. The section 153 is alsoprovided with locating studs 168 received in respective recesses 169 ofthe section 152.

The frame plate 155 mounts a print head 170, a feed wheel 171, a gearassembly 172, an applicator 173 shown to be in the form of a roll, aplaten 174, a delaminator 175, a mounting pin 176 and a plurality ofrollers 177, mounting posts 178, 179, 180 and 181, and a support 236.

The frame plate 155 is provided with two spaced-apart precisely locatedrectangular holes in which respective square mating locating pins orstuds 183 are received. There are three identical hold-down connectionswhich secure the frame plate 155 to the housing section 152.

The frame plate 155 has a pair of elongated cutouts or open-ended slots188 and a pair of oppositely facing elongated cutouts or open endedslots 189. The slots 188 and 189 communicate with larger respectivecutouts 190 and 191. Oppositely facing ball tracks 192 and 193 arereceived in respective cutouts 190 and 191. The print head 170 comprisesa print head frame 194 having a pair of oppositely facing ball tracks195 and 196. A ball bearing strip 197 is received in mating ball bearingtracks 192 and 195 and a ball bearing strip 198 is received in matingball bearing tracks 193 and 196. The ball tracks 192 and 193 are shownto be generally channel-shaped in construction. When the ball tracks 192and 193 are in the position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ball tracks192 and 193 are received by the frame plate 155. Threaded fasteners 199extend through the cutouts 188 and are threadably received in holes 199'in the ball track 192. Similarly, threaded fasteners 200 extend throughcutouts 189 and are threadably received in holes 200' in the ball track193. The print head 170 is capable of printing two lines of data in thatthe print head 170 has two lines of printing bands 201.

The apparatus 150 is shown to utilize a composite web 203. The compositeweb 203 of label material 204 is releasably adhered to supporting abacking material 205. The label material 204 is cut transversely by buttcuts or slits 206 extending all the way across the web 204 of labelmaterial, thereby separating the label material 204 into a series ofend-to-end labels 207. The composite web 203 can be wound onto acircular cylindrical core 208 composed of paperboard or other suitablematerial. The feed wheel 171 has a plurality of pairs of transverselyspaced-apart teeth 171' which engage the supporting material web 205.The composite web roll R is mounted on a reel generally indicated at209. The reel 209 is comprised of a generally flat disc 210 having acentral hole 211. Disc 210 has a plurality of equally spaced-apart pins212 disposed at equal distances from the central hole 211. The reel 209also includes a hub generally indicated at 213. The hub 213 has acentral tubular hub portion 214 joined to an end wall. The pins 212 arereceived in mating holes 212' in the end wall, thereby keying the disc210 and the hub 213 for rotation together as a unit. Spaced outwardlyfrom the hub portion 214 and joined integrally to the end wall are aplurality of flexible, resilient, cantilever mounted fingers 216 havingprojections 217. A retainer 221 received by the marginal end of theshaft 181 prevents the reel 209 from shifting off the post or shaft 181and prevents the hub 213 from separating from the disc 210 so that thepins 212 do not loose engagement with the holes 212'.

An actuator generally indicated at 222 is shown to take the form of apivotally operated lever mounted by support structure including a pivotpin 223 received in an eccentric 224 in the form of a sleeve. Theactuator 222 is urged in a counterclockwise direction (FIGS. 1 and 2) bya spring assembly 225 which includes a compression spring 226.

The actuator 222 carries a first member, namely, a gear or gear section227 having an opening 228 provided by a missing tooth. The gear section227 is in meshing engagement with a second member, namely, gear sectionor segment 229 of the gear assembly 172. The gear assembly 172 also hasa gear section or segment 231 in meshing engagment with the gear sectionor rack 232 formed integrally with the print head frame 194. Assumingthe handle 159 is being held in the user's hand, the user's fingers canoperate the actuator 222 to pivot the actuator 222 clockwise (FIGS. 1and 2) against the force of the spring 226 in the spring device 225,thereby causing the gear segment 229 to rotate counterclockwise.Sections 152 and 154 have stops 151'.

A drive shaft 235 is molded integrally with the gear segment 229. Thesupport 236, in the form of a tube or tubular bearing, is suitablysecured in a hole 237' (FIG. 9) in the frame plate 155.

A brake 270 includes a brake member 283 which has a brake shoe 284composed of a flexible resilient material. During use of the apparatus,the brake member 283 is stationary. However, during loading of thecomposite web 203, the brake member 283 can be moved manually to itsineffective position. The brake member 283 is integrally joined by a hub285 to a slotted arm 286. The hub 285 is pivotally mounted on the post178. The arm 286 has an elongated slot 287. A slide 288 has an elongatedslot 289 which receives the post 178 and a pin 290 secured to the arm286 to provide a pin-and-slot connection. The slide 288 has afinger-engageable projection 288' by which the slide 288 can be moved.As the slide 288 moves in one direction, the pin 290 cooperates with theslot 287 to pivot the arm 286 and the brake member 283 counterclockwise.A shaft 291 extends through a bore 292 in the slide 288.

The shaft 291 mounts a roll 293 comprised of a roll member 294 on oneside of the slide 288 and a roll member 295 on the other side of theslide 288. The shaft 291 also passes through an elongated arcuate slot296 of an arm 297 which is pivotally connected to a pin 298 of the gearsegment 229. A washer 299 (FIG. 1) is disposed on the shaft 291 betweenthe roll member 294 and the arm 297 and a retractable guide 300 isdisposed on the shaft 291 between the roll member 295 and a retainer 301secured to the marginal end of the shaft 291. Guide section 312 has anintegral pin 300' received in an elongated slot 300" in the guide 300.The shaft 291 is secured to an arm 302 pivotally mounted on a stud 303carried by the frame plate 155.

From the place where the composite web 203 is paid out of the roll, itpasses over and in contact with a resilient device 310 in the form of acurved leaf spring. The resilient device 310 deflects when the feedwheel 171 is advancing the composite web 203 and after the brake 270 isapplied the device 310 gradually returns as additional web 203 is causedto be paid out of the supply roll R. Track structure generally indicatedat 311 includes guide track sections 312, 313 and 314. The track section312 has a forked end 315 which is received by marginal end 316 of anextension 318 of the platen 174. The track section 312 has a shorttubular portion 319 which is received by the post 179. Accordingly, thetrack section 312 is securely held in position relative to the frameplate 155 by the marginal end 316 and by the post 179. After passing incontact with the resilient device 310, the composite web 203 enters afirst zone Z1 above the track structure 312 and below the print head170. The print head 170 carries a roll 320 comprised of a plurality offor example, three rollers 321 rotatably mounted on a shaft 322 mountedon the print head 170. The rollers 321 deflect the composite web 203into contact with the track section 312 as the print head 170 moves.From the zone Z1 the composite web 203 passes partly around a rollgenerally indicated at 323 which is comprised of three rollers 177.After the composite web 203 passes around the roll 323, a label 207 ofthe composite web 203 is disposed between the platen 174 and the printhead 170. FIG. 2 shows one of the labels 207 as being almost entirelydelaminated from the supporting material web 205 and ready to be appliedby applicator 173. The applicator 173 is shown to comprise a rollrotatably mounted on a post 325 secured to the frame plate 155, althoughother types of applicators can be used instead if desired. A removableretainer 326 maintains the applicator 173 on the post 325. In theloading position shown in FIG. 2, the composite web 203 passes partlyaround an end of the slide 288 and partly around the roll 293 and fromthere partly around the feed wheel 171. The shaft 178 carries a roller327 (FIG. 1) between the hub 285 and the frame plate 155 and a roller328 disposed between the slide 288 and a retainer 329.

The track section 313 cooperates with the track section 314 to provide adischarge chute at a zone Z2 through which the supporting material web205 exits. The track section 313 has a pair of spaced-apart tubularportions 330 and 331 received respectively by posts 179 and 180. Thetrack section 313 has an integrally formed curved retaining bracket 332which passes partly around a flange 333 of a post 334. Thus, the tracksection 313 is secured to the frame plate 155 and to the housing section152. The track section 313 includes a channel-shaped portion 335 towhich the connector 332 is joined. The track section 314 has an offsetflange 336 which fits into the channel-shaped portion 335 to interlockthe track section 314 with the track section 313. The track section 314also has a curved retaining bracket 337 which extends partly around theflange 333 and has a pair of spaced-apart offset flanges 338 and 339which fits against the outside of the channel-shaped portion 335. Atubular portion 330' secures one end of the track section 314 to theframe plate 155 and the flanges 336, 338 and 339 interlock the tracksections 313 and 314. The track structure 311 also includes a stripper340 which engages the smooth annular outer surface 171a of the feedwheel 171. The stripper 340 is provided with pair of offset flanges 341and 342 which fits respectively into grooves 343 and 344 in the tracksection 313. The post 179 is longer than the combined lengths of thetubular portions 319, 330 and 330' and thus a projection 345 formedintegrally with the stripper 340 can fit snugly into the end of thetubular portion 331.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the resilient device 310 has a connector 348received in an undercut recess 353 in the track section 213. The housingis shown to have an opening 354 (FIG. 2) having relatively sharpexternal edges 355 and 356 which can serve as cutting edges for removingthe excess web 205.

With reference to FIG. 3, ink roll 401 is shown to be rotatably mountedon a post 401' secured to an arm 402. The arm 402 is pivotally mountedon a post 403 secured to the frame plate 155. A tension spring 404 isconnected at one end to an upstanding tab 405 on the arm 402 and itsother end to a post 406 mounted on the frame plate 155. The arm 402 andthe ink roll 401 are shown in one extreme position by solid lines inwhich the print head 170 is in its retracted position and by phantomlines in which the print head 170 is in its extended or printingposition. The shaft 401' extends through an arcuate slot 407 in theframe plate 155.

With reference initialy to FIG. 5, there is shown the feed wheel 171which is secured against relative rotation to the rolling-contact typeone-way clutch 243. The feed wheel 171 has a hub portion 500. The hubportion 500 has an annular flange 501 against which one end of theclutch 243 abuts. The feed wheel 171 is provided with a plurality ofequally spaced-apart toothed segments 502 arranged in an annular row anddisposed in a common plane. The toothed segments 502 have a plurality ofteeth formed by ridges 503 and intervening grooves 504. A drive wheel isshown to comprise a ratchet wheel 505 having a plurality of teeth 506disposed at equally spaced-apart intervals. The ratchet wheel 505 has ahub portion 505', both axially slidably and rotatably mounted on outercircular cylindrical surface 246 of the support 236. Hence the feedwheel 171 and the ratchet wheel 505 are coaxially mounted for relativeaxial shifting and rotational movement. The ratchet wheel 505 has aplurality of equally spaced-apart toothed segments 507 arranged in anannular row and disposed in a common plane. The toothed segments 507have ridges 508 and intervening grooves 509. The annular extent or widthof the segments 507 is slightly less than the annular extent or width ofthe segments 502. The number of segments 507 is equal to the number ofsegments 502, and the pitch of the ridges 503 and grooves 504 is equalto the pitch of the ridges 508 and grooves 509. Accordingly, the ratchetwheel 505 and the feed wheel 171 can be readily assembled as well bedescribed below in greater detail.

A helical, compression, clutch spring 510 is shown to be disposed abouthub portion 505' of the ratchet wheel 505 and to be received in a recess511. One end of the clutch spring 510 abuts against an annular flange512 of the ratchet wheel 505 and the other end of the clutch spring 510abuts against one end of the clutch 243. The spring 510 normally urgesthe clutch member 507 into clutching engagement with the clutch member502 as shown in FIG. 9. However, to effect change of position of theratchet wheel 505 relative to the feed wheel 171, the user uses hisfingers to push on the knurled bead 513 on the outer surfaces of theratchet wheel 505 and pushes the ratchet wheel from the position shownin FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 8, thereby compressing theclutch spring 510. In this axially shifted position of the ratchet wheel505 relative to the feed wheel 171, the user can rotate the ratchetwheel 505 relative to the feed wheel 171 to a new position ofadjustment, and when in this position the user simply stops pushing onthe bead 513 and the spring 510 will thereupon urge the ratchet wheel505 axially until the toothed members 507 clutch with the toothed member502 in the new selected position. A change of position of the feed wheel171 and the ratchet wheel 505 relative to each other will change theposition to which the composite web 203 is advanced relative to theplaten 174 and relative to the delaminator 175.

In order to prevent the ratchet wheel 505 and the feed wheel 171 frombeing moved to relative positions in which respective toothed members502 and 507 are out of alignment and are disassembled from each other bythe force exerted by the clutch spring 510, thereiis provided a stopdevice 514 having a pair of stops 515 and 515'. The stops 515 and 515'extend in an axial direction and are secured to a hollow body 516received by the feed wheel 171. The stops 515 and 515' extend throughslots or holes 171h in webs 171w which join the hub portion 518 and rim238, thereby preventing rotation of the stop device 514 relative to thefeed wheel 171. An annular ring 517 secured to the body 516 is receivedabout a hub portion 518 of the feed wheel 171. The ring 517 has aplurality of flexible resilient fingers 519 each of which has arespective projection 520. The spring fingers 519 prevent movement ofthe stop member 514 toward the plate 155 to a position in which stops515 and 515' would be out of the path of the toothed member 507. As bestshown in FIG. 8, in which the clutch members 507 are in one extremeposition relative to the clutch members 502, the stop 515' preventsfurther clockwise movement of the clutch members 507 relative to theclutch members 504. When a side surface of the clutch member 507 whichis disposed between the stops 515 and 515' contacts the stop 515 it willprevent further counterclockwise movement of the rachet wheel 505relative to the feed wheel 171, thereby preventing axial misalignment ofclutch members 507 and 502.

The clutch members 502 extend radially inwardly from rim 238 of the feedwheel 171 and the respective ridges 503 and grooves 504 are inclined inone direction relative to the axis of the feed wheel 171 as best shownin FIGS. 8 and 9. The clutch members 507 are shown to be secured to aweb 521 joined to the annular wall 512, and the clutch members 507extend in a radial outward direction. The ridges 508 and grooves 509 areinclined relative to the axis of the feed wheel 171 but in the samedirection as the ridges 503 and the grooves 504. When the ratchet wheel505 is in the position with respect to the feed wheel 171 shown in FIG.10, the clutch members 502 and 507 are clutched together by the actionof the clutch spring 510.

Pawl structure 522 is shown to include a hub 523. The hub 523 has anon-circular hole 524 with a flat 525. The hub 523 is received by theshaft 235 which has a flat 262 (FIG. 12) which faces the flat 525. Theshaft 235 is received in the elongated hole or bore 261. A grip ring 526is received by the drive shaft 235 and retains the pawl structure 522 inposition. It is noted that end portion 527 of the ratchet wheel 505abuts annular face 528 (FIG. 8) of the pawl structure 522 when theclutch members 502 and 507 are in meshing engagement as shown in FIG.10. The pawl structure 522 includes a pair of arms 529 and 530 securedto the hub 523. The arms 529 and 530 carry respective drive pawls 531and 532. The drive ends 533 and 534 simultaneously engage respectiveteeth 506 as best shown in FIG. 5. In driving the feed wheel 171, thepawl structure 522 is initially in the position shown in FIG. 6.Thereafter, as the drive shaft 235 is rotated, the pawl structure 522moves through a transitory position shown in FIG. 7 until drive ends 533and 534 moves into engagement with the next successive pair of teeth506. Upon rotation of the drive shaft 235 in the opposite direction, thedrive pawls 531 and 532 cause the feed wheel 171 to pull the supportingmaterial web 205, thereby advancing the composite web 203 through adistance equal to one label length. The change of position to which thecomposite web is advanced can be changed as described above. When thefeed wheel 171 has advanced the composite web 203 following the printingoperation, only the trailing marginal edge of the leading label 207 isadhered to the web 205. The quick-change clutching and declutchingmechanism enables the user to vary the width of the trailing marginaledge of the label which is adhered to the web 205 and also changes theregistration of the leading label 207 relative to the platen 174 and theprint head 170.

With reference to FIG. 12, the gear segment 229 is shown to have abearing 550 which is coaxial with the shaft 235. The gear segment 231has an annular hole 551 by which the gear segment 231 is rotatable onthe bearing 550. There is a post 552 on the gear segment 229 and a post553 on the gear segment 231. A tension spring 554 is connected at itsone end portion to the post 252 and at its other end portion to the post253. The spring 254 is in contact with outer annular surface 555 of abearing generally indicated at 556. The bearing 556 has an annularflange 557 and a through-hole 558. A screw 559 extends through the hole558 and is threadably received in an axial hole 560 in the bearing 550.The gear segment 231 has a latch shoulder 561 with which a latch or pawlgenerally indicated at 562 cooperates. The latch 562 is shown to beone-piece molded plastics construction and has a body 563 pivotallymounted at one end portion on a pin or post 564. The body 563 has atooth 565 its the other end portion. A leaf spring or spring finger 566is connected to the other end portion of the body and abuts a pin orpost 567. Thus, the tooth 565 is disposed between the posts 564 and 567.The latch 562 also has a cam 568 with which a pin or driver 569 (FIGS.1, 11 and 13) formed integrally with the gear segment 229 cooperates. Inthe initial position (FIG. 3) of the gear assembly 172, the spring 554urges a shoulder 570 of the gear segment 231 into abutment with ashoulder 572 of the gear segment 229. The latch tooth 565 engages theshoulder 561 to prevent rotation of the gear segment 231 in the oppositedirection. When the user grips the actuator 222, the gear segment 227drives the gear segment 229 relative to the gear segment 231. As thegear segment 229 continues to rotate, the spring 554 stretches. When thedriver 569 moves from the position shown in FIG. 3 through the positionshown in FIG. 11 to the position shown in FIG. 13, the driver 569 hasacted on the cam 268 to pivot the latch 562 counterclockwise (FIG. 13),thereby releasing the tooth 565 from engagement with the shoulder 561allowing the spring 554 to drive the gear segment 231 clockwise (FIG.13) to urge the print head 170 into printing cooperation with the platen174. By use of this arrangement, the force with which the print head 170is driven into cooperation with the platen 174 is essentiallyindependent of the rate at which the user moves the actuator 222. Whenthe actuator 222 is released the return spring assembly 225 returns theactuator 222, the gear segments 229 and 231, and the print head 170 totheir initial positions. The tooth 565 has a cam face 573. When the gearsection 231 returns to its initial position, portion 574 of the gearsegment 231 cooperates with the cam surface 573 to urge the pawl 562counterclockwise (FIG. 11) to enable the tooth 565 to again be inlatching engagement with the shoulder 561 in the position of FIG. 3. Asindicated from FIG. 12, the arrangement for providing a lost-motionconnection between the gear segments 229 and 231 is relatively simple.Moreover, this arrangement enables the positional relationship of theratchet wheel to be varied relative to the feed wheel to vary theposition to which the labeler is advanced relative to the plate 174 andthe delaminator 175.

With reference to FIGS. 15 and 16 there is shown an alternativeembodiment of the invention. Gear segments 229a and 231a are shown intheir initial positions. The gear segment 229a has a flange 575 againstwhich shoulder 576 of the gear segment 231a abuts. A compression spring577 is received in pockets 578 and 579. The spring 277 bottoms in thepockets 278 and 279. When the gear segment 229a is pivoted clockwise(FIG. 15) due to the action of the actuator 222, the driver 569cooperates with the cam 568 to trip the latch 562 and thus urge theprint head 170 into printing cooperation with the platen 174.

With reference to FIG. 4, the pair of ball tracks 192 and 195 and therespective ball bearing 197 are disposed at one side of the opening 190and the pair of ball tracks 193 and 196 and the respective ball bearing198 are disposed at one side of the other opening 191. A frame section580 of the frame plate 155 is disposed between the cutouts 190 and 191.The print head 170 is provided with a pair of members 582 and 583 whichstraddle the frame section 580 to prevent the print head 170 frombecoming dislocated with respect to the frame plate 155, as for examplewhen the labeler 150 is dropped. The member 583 fits underneath a lip584 and is connected to the print head 170 by a screw 584. There issufficient clearance between the frame section 580 and the members 582and 583 to avoid scraping or sliding action therebetween, but themembers 582 and 583 are close enough to prevent the print head 170 frompopping out of the frame 155 when the labeler is dropped.

Reference may be made to the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,562 forfurther details of construction and operation, the disclosure of saidpatent being incorporated herein by reference.

Other embodiments and modifications of this invention will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art, and all such of these as comewithin the spirit of this invention are included within its scope asbest defined by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressuresensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material,comprising: a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed at the handleand movable between an initial position and an actuated position, aplaten, a print head, means mounting the print head on the frame formovement into and out of printing cooperation with the platen, meansdisposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels from thesupporting material web, means disposed adjacent the delaminating meansfor applying printed labels, a feed wheel engageable with the web foradvancing the web, means including a drive mechanism for driving theprint head into cooperation .[.from.]. .Iadd.with .Iaddend.the platenand for thereafter driving the feed wheel to advance the just printedlabel into label applying relationship with respect to the applyingmeans, the drive mechanism including a first gear section movable inresponse to movement of the actuator, a second gear section meshing withthe first gear section, a third gear .Iadd.section .Iaddend.coupled tothe print head, spring means for urging the third gear section into aninitial position relative to the second gear section, means for holdingthe third gear section in the initial position until the actuator hasmoved to between its initial position and the actuated position, thesecond gear section being movable relative to the third gear sectionagainst the action of the spring means as the actuator moves away fromits initial position, and means for releasing the third gear sectionwhen the second gear section has moved through a selected distance toenable the spring means to drive the print head into printingcooperation with the platen.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, whereinthe drive mechanism further includes a fourth gear section connected tothe print head and in mesh with the third gear section, wherein therelatively movable second and third gear sections are mounted coaxiallywith respect to each other and with respect to the feed wheel, andwherein the drive mechanism further includes a pawl and ratchetmechanism coupled to the feed wheel, the pawl and ratchet mechanismbeing effective to drive the feed wheel only after the print head hascooperated with the platen.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, whereinthe drive mechanism further includes a fourth gear section connected tothe print head and in mesh with the third gear section, wherein thedrive mechanism further includes a ratchet wheel and a pawl driven bythe second gear section for driving the ratchet wheel, the pawl beingeffective to drive the feed wheel only after the print head hascooperated with the platen, and means for varying the positionalrelationship of the ratchet wheel relative to the feed wheel to vary theposition to which a label is advanced relative to the delaminatingmeans.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring is atension spring.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the springis a compression spring.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein thethird gear section is rotatably mounted on the second gear section. 7.Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism includes ashaft secured to the second gear section for rotatably mounting thesecond gear section, the third gear section being rotatably mounted onthe second section, a bearing disposed adjacent the second and thirdgear sections, the spring being a tension spring and being in supportedcontact with the bearing, the spring being connected at one end portionto the second gear section and at the other end portion to the thirdgear section.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the drivemechanism includes a lost-motion connection between the second and thirdgear sections.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the holdingmeans comprises a latch of one-piece molded plastics construction, thelatch having a latch shoulder cooperable with a shoulder on the thirdgear section, and a resilient spring finger for urging the latchshoulder into the path of the gear section shoulder, the releasing meansincluding cam means operated by the second gear section to trip thelatch.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the cam is on thelatch and the second gear section has a projection for contacting thecam and tripping the latch, a first post for pivotally mounting thelatch, a second post for contacting the spring finger, the latchshoulder being disposed between the first and second posts. 11.Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labelsreleasably carried on a web of supporting material, comprising: a framehaving a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable betweenan initial position and an actuated position, a platen, a print head,means mounting the print head on the frame for movement into and out ofprinting cooperation with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platenfor delaminating printed labels from the supporting material web, meansdisposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels,the frame including a tubular support having an elongated bore, a feedwheel engageable with the web for advancing the web, a rolling-contacttype one-way clutch mounted on the support, the clutch being received inand secured against relative rotation to the feed wheel, means includinga drive mechanism for driving the print head into cooperation with theplaten and for thereafter driving the feed wheel to advance the justprinted label into label applying relationship with respect to theapplying means, the drive mechanism including a first gear sectionmovable in response to movement of the actuator, a second gear sectionmeshing with the first gear section, a shaft secured to the second gearsection, a third gear section coupled to the print head, spring meansfor urging the third gear section into an initial position relative tothe second gear section, means for holding the third gear section in theinitial position until the actuator has moved to between its initialposition and the actuated position, the second gear section beingmovable relative to the third gear section against the action of thespring means as the actuator moves away from its initial position, meansfor releasing the third gear section when the second gear section hasmoved through a selected distance to enable the spring means to drivethe print head into printing cooperation with the platen, and a pawl andratchet mechanism including a pawl secured to the shaft and ratchetteeth disposed in an annular array and coupled to the feed wheel. 12.Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labelsreleasably carried on a web of supporting material, comprising: a framehaving a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable betweenan initial position and an actuated position, a platen, a print head,means mounting the print head on the frame for movement into and out ofprinting cooperation with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platenfor delaminating printed labels for the supporting material web, meansdisposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels, afeed wheel engageable with the web for advancing the web, meansincluding a drive mechanism for driving the print head into cooperationwith the platen and for thereafter driving the feed wheel to advance thejust printed label into label applying relationship with respect to theapplying means, the drive mechanism including a first member movable inresponse to movement of the actuator, a second member driven by thefirst member, a first gear section driven by .[.a.]. .Iadd.the.Iaddend.second member, a second gear section carried by the print head,spring means for urging the second member into an initial positionrelative to the first member, means for holding the second member in theinitial position until the actuator has moved to between its initialposition and the actuated position, means for releasing the secondmember when the first member has moved through a selected distance toenable the spring means to drive the print head into printingcooperation with the platen, the drive mechanism being effective in thecycle only after the releasing means has released the second member. 13.Apparatus as defined in claim 12, including means for pivotally mountingthe first and second members.
 14. Hand-held apparatus for printing andapplying pressure sensitive labels releaseably carried on a web ofsupporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle, an actuatordisposed at the handle and movable between an initial position and anactuated position, a platen, a print head, means mounting the print headon the frame for movement into and out of printing cooperation with theplaten, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printedlabels from the supporting material web, means disposed adjacent thedelaminating means for applying printed labels, a feed wheel engageablewith the web for advancing the web, means including a drive mechanismfor driving the print head into cooperation .[.from.]. .Iadd.with.Iaddend.the platen and for thereafter driving the feed wheel to advancethe just printed label into label applying relationship with respect tothe applying means, the drive mechanism including a first member movablein response to movement of the actuator, a second member driven by thefirst member, spring means for urging one of the members into an initialposition, means for holding the one member in the initial position untilthe actuator has moved to between its initial position and the actuatedposition, means for releasing the one member when the actuator has movedthrough a selected distance to enable the spring means to drive theprint head into printing cooperationwith the platen, the drive mechanismbeing effective in the cycle only after the releasing means has releasedthe one member.
 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein themounting means mounts the print head for straight line movement. 16.Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labelsreleasably carried on a web of supporting material, comprising: a framehaving a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable betweenan initial position and an actuated position, a platen, a print head,means mounting the print head on the frame for movement into and out ofprinting cooperation with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platenfor delaminating printed labels from the supporting material web, meansdisposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels, afeed wheel engageable with the web for advancing the web, meansincluding a drive mechanism for driving the print head into cooperationwith the platen and for thereafter driving the feed wheel to advance thejust printed label into label applying relationship with respect to theapplying means, the drive mechanism including a first gear sectionmovable in response to movement of the actuator, a second gear sectionmeshing with the first gear section, a third gear section coupled to theprint head, spring means for urging one of the two gear sections into aninitial position relative to the other of the two gear sections, meansfor holding the one of the two gear sections in the initial positionuntil the actuator has moved to between its initial position and theactuated position, the other of the two gear sections being movablerelative to the one of the two gear sections against the action of thespring means as the actuator moves away from its initial position, andmeans for releasing the one of the two gear sections when the other ofthe two gear sections has moved through a selected distance to enablethe spring means to drive the print head into printing cooperation withthe platen.
 17. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressuresensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material,comprising: a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed at the handleand movable between an initial and an actuated position, a platen, aprint head, means mounting the print head to the frame for movement intoand out of printing cooperation with the platen, means disposed adjacentthe platen for delaminating printed labels from the supporting materialweb, a feed wheel engageable with the web for advancing the web, meansincluding a drive mechanism for driving the print head into cooperationwith the platen and for thereafter driving the feed wheel to advance thejust printed label into label applying relationship with respect to theapplying means, the drive mechanism including a first gear coupled tothe actuator, a second gear for driving the print head and a lost-motionconnection between the first and second gears, first spring means forurging the print head into printing cooperation with the platen inresponse to movement of the first gear through a predetermined distance,and second spring means for returning the actuator, the first and secondgears and the print head to their initial positions, the drive mechanismfurther including a pawl and ratchet mechanism coupled to the feed wheeland operable by the second spring means only when the .[.actuaor.]..Iadd.actuator .Iaddend.has been moved to the actuated position andreleased. .Iadd.
 18. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applyingpressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supportingmaterial, comprising: a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed atthe handle and movable between an initial position and an actuatedposition, a platen, a print head, means mounting the print head on theframe for movement into and out of printing cooperation with the platen,means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels fromthe supporting material web, means for applying printed labels, meansengageable with the web for advancing the web, means responsive tomovement of the actuator for moving the print head into printingcooperation with the platen and for thereafter moving the web advancingmeans to advance the just printed label into label applying relationshipwith respect to the applying means, the moving means including a firstgear section coupled to the actuator, a second gear section meshing withthe first gear section, a spring for driving the print head in responseto movement of the second gear section, a third gear section coupled tothe second gear section, a fourth gear section coupled to the print headand meshing with the third gear section, means providing relativemovement between the second gear section and the print head, actuationof the actuator effecting loading of the spring when the actuator ismoved from the initial position toward the actuated position, means forpreventing movement of the print head toward the platen during movementof the actuator from its initial position toward its actuated positionuntil the actuator has moved through a predetermined distance, and meansresponsive to movement of the actuator through a predetermined distancefor releasing the print head into printing cooperation with the platen..Iaddend. .Iadd.
 19. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applyingpressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supportingmaterial, comprising: a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed atthe handle and movable between an initial position and an actuatedposition, a platen, a print head, means mounting the print head on theframe for movement into and out of printing cooperation with the platen,means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels fromthe supporting material web, means for applying printed labels, meansengageable with the web for advancing the web, means responsive tomovement of the actuator for moving the print head into printingcooperation with the platen and for thereafter moving the web advancingmeans to advance the just printed label into label applying relationshipwith respect to the applying means, the moving means including a firstgear section coupled to the actuator, a second gear section meshing withthe first gear section, a third gear section coupled to the second gearsection, a fourth gear section coupled to the print head and meshingwith the third gear section, a spring for driving the print head inresponse to movement of the second gear section, a lost-motionconnection providing relative movement between the second gear sectionand the print head, actuation of the actuator effecting loading of thespring when the actuator is moved from the initial position toward theactuated position, and means responsive to movement of the actuatorthrough a predetermined distance for releasing the print head intoprinting cooperation with the platen. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 20. Hand-heldapparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasablycarried on a web of supporting material, comprising: a frame having ahandle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable between aninitial position and an actuated position, a platen, a print head, meansmounting the print head on the frame for movement into and out ofprinting cooperation with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platenfor delaminating printed labels from the supporting material web, meansfor applying printed labels, means engageable with the web for advancingthe web, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving theprint head into printing cooperation with the platen and for thereaftermoving the web advancing means to advance the just printed label intolabel applying relationship with respect to the applying means, themoving means including a first gear section coupled to the actuator, asecond gear section meshing with the first gear section, a spring fordriving the print head, means responsive to movement of the second gearsection for loading the spring, means for latching the print headagainst movement toward the platen by the spring during a portion of themovement of the actuator and the first and second gear sections, thelatching means including a movable latch member, means mounting thelatch member for movement relative to the print head and relative to thefirst and second gear sections, and means responsive to movement of thesecond gear section when the actuator has moved through a predetermineddistance for tripping the latch member to enable the loaded spring todrive the print head into printing cooperation with the platenessentially independently of the rate at which the actuator is movedfrom its initial position to its actuated position. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21.Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labelsreleasably carried on a web of supporting material, comprising: a framehaving a handle, an actuating lever disposed at the handle and pivotalbetween an initial position and an actuated position, a platen, a printhead, means mounting the print head on the frame for straight linemovement into and out of printing cooperation with the platen, meansdisposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels from thesupporting material web, means for applying printed labels, meansengageable with the web for advancing the web, means responsive tomovement of the actuating lever for moving the print head into printingcooperation with the platen and for thereafter moving the web advancingmeans to advance the just printed label into label applying relationshipwith respect to the applying means, the moving means including a firstgear section coupled to the actuating lever, a second gear sectionmeshing with the first gear section, a spring for driving the printhead, means responsive to movement of the second gear section forloading the spring, means for latching the print head against movementtoward the platen by the spring during a portion of the movement of theactuating lever and the first and second gear sections, the latchingmeans including a movable latch member, means mounting the latch memberfor movement relative to the print head and relative to the first andsecond gear sections, and means responsive to movement of the secondgear section when the actuating lever has moved through a predetermineddistance for tripping the latch member to enable the loaded spring todrive the print head into printing cooperation with the platenessentially independently of the rate at which the actuating lever ismoved from its initial position to its actuated position..Iaddend..Iadd.
 22. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applyingpressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supportingmaterial, comprising: a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed atthe handle and movable between an initial position and an actuatedposition, a platen, a print head, means mounting the print head on theframe for movement into and out of printing cooperation with the platen,means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels fromthe supporting material web, means for applying printed labels, meansengageable with the web for advancing the web, means responsive tomovement of the actuator for moving the print head into printingcooperation with the platen and for thereafter moving the web advancingmeans to advance the just printed label into label applying relationshipwith respect to the applying means, the moving means including a firstgear section coupled to the actuator, a second gear section meshing withthe first gear section, a spring means for transmitting movement of thesecond gear section to the spring to load the spring, means fortransmitting movement from the loaded spring to the print head, meansfor latching the print head against movement toward the platen by thespring during a portion of the movement of the actuator and the firstand second gear sections, the latching means including a movable latchmember, means mounting the latch member for movement relative to theprint head and relative to the first and second gear sections, and meansresponsive to movement of the second gear section when the actuator hasmoved through a predetermined distance for tripping the latch member toenable the loaded spring to drive the print head into printingcooperation with the platen essentially independently of the rate atwhich the actuator is moved from its initial position to its actuatedposition. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 23. Hand-held apparatus for printing andapplying pressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web ofsupporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle, an actuatinglever disposed at the handle and mounted for movement between an initialposition and an actuated position, a platen, a print head, meansmounting the print head on the frame for straight line movement into andout of printing cooperation with the platen, means disposed adjacent theplaten for delaminating printed labels from the supporting web, meansfor applying printed labels, means engageable with the web for advancingthe web, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving theprint head into printing cooperation with the platen and for thereaftermoving the web advancing means to advance the just printed label intolabel applying relationship with respect to the applying means, themoving means including a first gear section coupled to the lever, asecond gear section meshing with the first gear section, a spring loadedin response to movement of the second gear section resulting frommovement of the actuating lever away from its initial position towardits actuated position, means coupling the second gear section to thespring, means coupling the spring to the print head, means for latchingthe print head against movement toward the platen by the spring during aportion of the movement of the actuating lever and the first and secondgear sections, the latching means including a movable latch member,means mounting the latch member for movement relative to the print headand relative to the first and second gear sections, and means responsiveto movement of the second gear section when the actuating lever hasmoved through a predetermined distance for tripping the latch member toenable the loaded spring to drive the print head into printingcooperation with the platen essentially independently of the rate atwhich the actuating lever is moved from its initial position to itsactuated position. .Iaddend.